LACK OF CLERGY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 168, 18 July 1945, Page 5

LACK OF CLERGY

FEW RECRUITS OFFER HA\ E COLLEGIATE SCHOOLS FAILED? (P.A.) Wellington, July 17. When alluding to the dearth of’candidates for the ministry, the B-ishop ol Wellington (the Rt. Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland) asked at to-day’s session of • the Diocesan Synod. “Why is it that Church schools like the Wanganu* Collegiate School and Christ's College are not effective recruiting grounds for the finest and most satisfying vocation in the world?” “Why is it,” he continued “that we have not enrolled among our ordinauds more of the fine young Christian officers or n.c o.s in our New Zealand Division, who have displayed the gifts and the character which are needed in the ministry? I have no Answer ready, and I know that I must th'ink again, and so must all of you.” The Bishop declared that the work of the Church was held up, and vicars had been frustrated in their efforts, through lack of man-power. In consequence. he had called into being an advisory committee on the recruiting and train ng of ordinands. A preliminary survey had sMown that only four narishes in lhe diocese had curates, and, there were 16 In "immediate and dire i I need’’ of clerical assistance, most of I them in a position to provide the i necessary stipends, To the end of 1949 ! the committee could look forward to ‘ only 10 ord nation candidates, j “It is obvious that we must regard 1 the recruiting of clergy as one of our chief diocesan priorities,” the Bishop commented.